Sodium Lauryl Sulfate= Detergent in your toothpaste.

You are seduced on a daily basis by the intoxicating aromas, flashy packaging, and enticing promises of everlasting youth these products offer.

But what is the real cost of applying these products to your body?

If I were to tell you that your personal care products could be putting you at risk for hair and skin damage, immunological problems, damage to your eyes, and possibly even cancer, would you pay a little more attention to their ingredients?

The growing awareness of chemicals in the foods you eat has led many of you to begin reading labels. If you are doing this as part of your regular shopping routine, I commend you, and you will likely live longer for it.

But what about the products you are smearing all over yourself?

• Eye makeup can be absorbed by your highly sensitive mucous membranes.
• Hair sprays, perfumes and powders can be inhaled, irritating your lungs.
• Lipstick is licked off and swallowed.
• Sunscreen and lotions are absorbed through your skin.
• Shampoo can run into your eyes or your baby's eyes.
• Laundry detergent, in small amounts, comes in contact with your skin via your clothes.

In 2004, a six-month study was done about personal care product use. More than 10,000 body care product ingredients were evaluated, involving 2,300 participants.

One of the findings was that the average adult uses nine personal care products each day, containing 126 different chemicals. The study also found that more than 250,000 women, and one out of every 100 men, use an average of 15 products daily.

Are these products as safe as the labels would have you to believe?

With the sheer multitude of chemicals out there, it would be impossible to cover them all in one report. But I have covered most of the significant players, and you can find those articles using the search engine at the top of this page.

This blog post will focus on a compound called sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES), a very common chemical used throughout the cosmetic industry.

A great deal of misinformation, myth, and rumor surround SLS/SLES, and I would like to discuss what is really known about this chemical and its potential risk to you.

There are reports of side effects that have been published. For example, a 1983 report published by The American College of Toxicology (ACT) found that even relatively low concentrations, less than one-half percent, might result in skin irritation. Higher concentrations were responsible for severe irritation and even corrosion of the skin.

Ammonium Laurel Sulfate

Ammonium Laurel Sulfate (ALS) is very similar to SLS. They both are formed with a negative charge on the lauryl sulfate ion. In addition, there is a positive charge which is either ammonium in ALS or sodium in SLS. This is the only difference between the two surfactants. The term “surfactants” comes from a shortening of the term “surface acting agents”. They are intended to lower the water’s “surface tension”. This process makes it possible for water to more effectively penetrate into the affected fibers in an action called “wetting”.

The major difference between the two chemicals is the rate of solubility. When SLS is dissolved in room temperature water, the rate is 150 g for each liter of water. Under the same conditions, ALS is able to dissolve 500 grams in the identical amount of water. SLS is typically not used in colorless or clear products such as shampoos or soaps. The low solubility rates would cause the product to appear cloudy. ALS is the surfactant of choice for clear products.

Which Household Products Contain SLS

The National Institute of Health publication “Household Products Directory” lists sodium lauryl sulfate as a chemical ingredient in more than 80 products! Some household soaps have a concentration measurement as high as 30 percent. This level is considered dangerous and a likely cause of skin irritation. SLS is also found in Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Makeup and shampoos.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is one of the common ingredients used in shampoos. This makes shampoo a frequently reported product to the Food and Drug Administration. Some of the typical reports and complaints include split or fuzzy hair, tangles in the hair strands, swelling of the arms, face or hands, irritation of the scalp and irritation of the eyes.

Canker Sores

Mayo Clinic.com reports that some people develop canker sores after using toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Canker sores are small ulcers that appear in your mouth, frequently on the gums. Canker sores do not form on the outside of your lips and mouth, but they can be painful and cause discomfort when you eat.
Toothpaste manufacturers put sodium lauryl sulfate in their products to generate the foaming effect you get when you brush your teeth. You can find toothpastes at any natural grocery store or pharmacy that do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate if you think your toothpaste is giving you canker sores.

Skin Irritation

A study performed at the University of California's School of Dermatology found that applying sodium lauryl sulfate to the face can cause skin irritation. According to the study, prolonged exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate compounds the negative effects the chemical has on your skin. Using products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate could result in skin dryness and redness.
If you experience skin dryness that you think maybe caused by sodium lauryl sulfate, read the ingredient labels on the products you use on your face. If you find sodium lauryl sulfate listed, try a product that doesn't include it. You can find beauty products that don't have sodium lauryl sulfate at most beauty and drug stores.

Respiratory Illness

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a powerful cleanser. The Natural Health Information Centre explain that sodium lauryl sulfate is used to degrease car engines. In 1982, eight employees at a hospital in Virginia became ill after the hospital's carpet was cleaned using a product that listed sodium lauryl sulfate as the active ingredient. Most of the sick employees experienced respiratory illness, such as coughing, while many also complained of headaches, sore throats and nausea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that the carpet cleaner was not diluted properly, leading to the illnesses. After the carpets were steamed and vacuumed to remove the excess cleaning product, no new cases of illness were reported. 

Following is a sample incomplete ingredient list of an anonymous product:

Aqua/Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxystearyl Cetyl Ether, Ppg-5- Ceteth- 20, Sodium Methylparaben, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Carbomer, Dmdm Hydantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Linalool, Phenoxyethano, …

We don't know just how much these chemicals effect us as individuals. We know they are not natural therefore not meant for human consumption in any way. I'ts very easy to understand the negative effects on us if we use it excessively. To be on the safe side...

Thanks for Reading!
If you are ready to purchase chemical free laundry detergent and other products, please visit my my online store? All natural products for the body and home. www.motherearthshealing.etsy.com

Don't forget to follow us and like us.

https://www.facebook.com/MotherEarthsHealing

https://twitter.com/EarthMom13

http://pinterest.com/earthmom13